The process

the donation process

First thing’s first – to become a sperm donor, you need to register your interest by filling out an initial form. Once you’ve submitted your questionnaire to us, you’ll hear back from a member of our team within a few days to set up an appointment and begin your screening.

Want to know more? Find our about applying here.

while you’re donating

Once you’ve been screened and everything has been checked, you’ll be given an appointment.

Some donors choose a regular slot on the same day and time each week, whereas others need more flexibility. We’ll work with you to accommodate any work commitments or requirements. If possible, donors need to visit once a week and we collect anything between 20-30 samples.

When you arrive in the unit, you’ll be given a labelled sample container and shown to one of our private production rooms. 

Once the sample has been produced and handed back to the lab staff, you’ll sign your expenses sheet before leaving.

after you’ve donated

You’ll be screened every 6 months whilst donating.

On the day of your last donation, you’ll go for final blood and urine tests. 

We hold your samples in quarantine for 6 months before performing one final blood test. 

Now for the best bit – helping to create a family. Once all the results are clear, we start matching you to recipients wanting treatment. (It can take many years for all of the samples to be used up!)

Some families opt to reserve additional samples, so that they can extend their family using the same donation.

can you find out what happens with your donations?

Something to bear in mind is what happens once your donation has been used. You’re free to ask about the outcome of your donations. You’re permitted to know the number of babies born, the year they were born and the sex of the children. Other than this, no other details can be disclosed to you.

Once a person born through sperm donation turn 18 years old, they’re entitled to know more about their donor. The HFEA will mediate this situation, and attempts will be made to contact you before any information about your identity is released to a donor conceived person. You’re under no obligation to meet or have contact, but by law we can’t prevent access to identifying information being released.

If you’re uncomfortable with this, you will need to think very carefully about the decision to donate. We provide expert independent counsellors to help you come to the right decision.